Saudi Arabia says it has smashed three cells linked to the extremist group Islamic State (IS) and also arrested 17 suspected sympathizers.

Fourteen of those arrested are Saudi nationals, including one woman, the Interior Ministry said.

The other three detainees were Yemeni, Egyptian, and Palestinian, a ministry spokesman said.

They are the latest arrests connected with the extremist group in the kingdom.

"Months-long efforts culminated in the foiling of a terrorist plot that was to be carried out by a network made up of three cluster cells connected to IS," the ministry said in a statement to the official Saudi Press Agency.

"They targeted security officials and security, economic, and military establishments and citizens in different locations."

Since late 2014, IS has claimed a series of bombings and shootings targeting Shi'ite mosques as well as the security forces.